Illuminated sign



March 19, 1935. p- HAMlLTON 1,994,642

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed oct. 19, 1953 2 sheets-Sheet 1 'N E N "22 glei L. P. HAMILTON ILLUMINATED 'SIGN March 19, 193s.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1935- Patented Mer. 19, 1935 UNIT-13D .zsTAfrEs '-"PATENT- Aitil-121e a` The object of the invention is" ato provide :improvements Vin illuminated ysigns :and display meda generally, but Amore especially .in a Vnovel construction and arrangement, whereby lan iny finite number of multiple `effects may be obtained by employing both direct 4and kdiffused lighting of a relatively opaque medium, so `cut, as to pro- Vide silhouette and thexcut-,outregions-being.partially or 'entirely spannedby clear or ycolored transparent media, adapted to' alter the color of the light `raysslnlning thru saidregions Another vobject is to 'provider an 4improvedfand simplified vhollow frame within which a particular display card is positioned,` in addition to the one .or morevsources ,of illumination, the means to flash said 'illuminationfsources and if `desired one or more'switchesitocontrolsaid sources. p

A further object-is-toprovidein sucha device, provision for Vaplur-,ality `.of "electric flamps, as representative of ,anysuitableandavailable light source, and if desired `,each Aof such lamps being of a different color, and racorrespondinglydife ferent time for flashing andnperiod-of duration, so that with a given -opaque leal-:d having Acutout lregions and a semi-transparent covering for said regions of a given, color, andwthefmatter care ried by the card having.afgivenappearance when illuminated from the front alonetl1e different colors of the lamps will Vcombine, Withthacolor of the said semi-transparent medium, to `provide.

still further effects or appearances.

With these objects of the invention thus broadly stated, said invention comprises further details of construction and operation, as are hereinafter fully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a front elevational View of a device comprising one embodiment of theinvention',

Fig. 2 is a right side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the device with the forward cover or closure removed, and a fragmentary portion of the interior removed; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4: of Fig. 3, but with the lamp on top and the flashing mechanism shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawings a box-like structure is provided, comprising a rear wall 1, end Walls 2, top wall 3, and a bottom Wall 4, said last-named Wall being adapted to be hunger to rest upon any suitable supporting surface 5, thru the medium of rubber or other types of cushions or the like 6. Said box-like structure is formed in lpassing outwardly `from said structure.

`anysuitable manner,` and the edge portions of `its severalwalls vmay-overlap-by means of flanges '7, orfin fact any'other arrangement whichwill `insure 'maximum Arigidity and `minimum weight and expense. y

Extending, -peripherally around the interior `of this box-like structure -zis a .frame comprising inV `cross section anla-shaped angularl member, comprising forwardly ypositioned flanges 8, lying in a common plane and rearwardly extending flanges r9., iwhichxlatter are Asecureddiriectly to said top,

ybottom and sidewalls, eas yshown in Fig.":4. Beyond this framel and the rear wall il, anydesired numberofflamps J-are provided `the same being vsecuredinany suitable manner to rthe :side Walls 2, or in fact tothe 'topl and bottom walls as well, if desired. Thevheat from these lamps is adapted` to 4.pass outwardly lfrom saidv boxlike ever, fbeingspannedpat a slight .distance by means of adiagonally ,extending `plate 12 also having Ispaced apertureslB, which tho `are not inalignment. with said `first-mentioned apertures, thereby preventing light rays from the lamps 10 'Also suitably positioned Wir-thin said structure is a suitable make-and-break or flasher mechanism 14,

of any well-known type, the samebeing connected, `if desired` :thru -a suitable switch 15v with said lamps- 10, so4 thatl the lamps blink simultaneously,

or goon and olf alternately, for a purpose hereinafter described.

At this point it should also be noted that, as before indicated, a plurality of make-and-break mechanisms may be present, and connected to different lamps, Which lamps may be of different colors, in order to give different visual effects to the display sign hereinafter described. For the purpose of illustration, a display sign is here shown as comprising an opaque field 16, having cutout regions 17, providing silhouette, letters, figures, or in fact any desired indicia, said cutout regions being spanned in whole or in part by means of transparent media 18 of a single or multiplicity of colors, and it is thru this semitransparent media that the rays of one or more of said lamps shine when they are properly energized.

In addition thereto, a suitable combined bracket, shield and reflector 19 is secured to the outer surface of the top Wall 3, or to another convenient portion of said box-like structure, in such a position that the rays of a lamp 20 therein shine constantly upon the outermost surface of the opaque iield 16 of the display card. As a result, said field with its color and other characteristics is constantly illuminated and therefore productive of a given characteristic effect, while the effect of the same is changed instantly upon the energizing of one or more of the lamps 10, since the illumination of the semi-transparent media 18 from the rear is thereby emphasized by comparison with the less brilliantly illuminated neld 16^Yof the display'sign.

The display sign as a unit when in operative position rests against the flanges 8, and is normally secured in this position by means of a diagonally, inwardly extending flange 21, comprising a frame-like structure hinged at 22 tothe forward edge portion of the bottom Wall 4. Sur-y the hinge 22, so as to permit a ready withdrawal and replacement of the display sign cards. During such operation, it Awill beevident that the bracket 19 and lamp 20 are inno .wise affected, since they are permanently positioned outside of and free from the path of movement of said box-like structure, which iny the end serves to form a partial closure for said box-like structure hereinbefore rst described.

I am aware that the invention maybe embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and. not restrictive, reference being had to the accompanying claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate ythe scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters-Patent of the United States isz- 1. The combinationv of a' box-'like structure having an open face, a source of light Withinsaid structure, a peripheral'ilange within said structure intermediate its forward and rear extremities, a relatively opaque display card provided with light-passing regions, and. positioned directly in front of said light source, a closure for a portion of said open face hinged to the forward edge portion of said structure and forming a frameV for said card, an inwardly directed peripheral flange carried by said closure and having only an edge portion normally bearing against and maintaining said. ca rd against said rst ange, and asecondfsourceof light outside of said structure and so arranged laterally of said card as to direct its raysupon and substantially in the plane of the outer surface ci said card.

2. The combination of a box-like structure, having anopenface and providing a peripheral ilange forming a continuation of the sidewalls of said structurefan inwardly extending substantially planular peripheral flange within said portion of said ilange, andcomprising ra diag-- onally inwardly projecting peripheral ilange, normally positioned within andprotected by said rst flange and having only its inner free edge` portion bearing against Vthe outer surface of-said card.

3. 'Ihe combination of 4a box-like structure,

having an open face and providing a peripheral f ange forming a continuation of the Vside walls of said structure,` an inwardly extending substantially planular peripheral kflange within said structure, intermediate-its'forward and rear extremities, a. relatively opaque-'display card protion of said iirst flange, and comprising a diag- Y onally inwardly projecting lperipheralI ilange,

normally positioned Within and protected by said first flange and having 'onlyl its inner free edge portion bearing against' the outer surface of saidV7 card, a Source Vof light directly to the rear of said card, and a second source of light positioned outside of said structure, laterally of and operative t0 castits rays only at highly acuteangles across the outer face f of said'4 card. LOUIS PATTON HAMILTON. 

